Page 37 - Thetha Issue 6

BUSINESS

with the chamber stretches back to
the early 1990s, when she interned
there for her National Diploma in
Public Relations. As a non-profit
organisation (NPO), it represents
a broad spectrum of businesses in
Nelson Mandela Bay.
Van Huyssteen was the top public
relations student of her year, acing
nine distinctions from the then Port
Elizabeth Technikon, now Nelson
Mandela University.
“I always knew I wanted to
be in business, and reputation
management is key to success
in business,” she says of how
qualification and current
career dovetail.

Putting people first

As someone who is “cause-oriented”,
she has always supported the aims
of the chamber and in the late 1990s
also served as its communications
manager.
However, she was head-hunted
by former Delta Motor Corporation
(later to become General Motors
South Africa) head, Willie van Wyk, to
Denise van Huyssteen. Image: Leon Hugo manage corporate communications
at the then locally owned
A master of position a cause – to save jobs,”
automotive company.
“I found a way to make that
she says of the move, which led to
crisis management spending close to 20 years in the
automotive industry.
During her time at General
Motors South Africa (GMSA), she
was a member of the executive
If the turbulence of the past five years has taught Nelson Mandela committee and led communications
Bay Business Chamber CEO Denise van Huyssteen anything, it teams in South Africa, Kenya, Egypt
has been how to tackle a challenge. By Gillian McAinsh and Dubai. She also served as a
director on the business chamber
board from 2013 to 2020.
ertainly, her experience Nelson Mandela University Citizen Her crisis-management skills were
in both the international of the Year. called on when, in 2017, General
motor industry and “I see myself as a crisis manager,” Motors announced it would withdraw
her personal life has Van Huyssteen says. from South Africa in what could have
Cproved invaluable in Since taking office – she started been a body blow for the motor
managing current work challenges, in June 2021 – Van Huyssteen has trade in Gqeberha, formerly often
including power cuts, a water crisis, made her mark to position the dubbed the Detroit of South Africa.
volatile municipal governance, chamber as a catalyst to attract and Isuzu Motors SA stepped in to
the ongoing effects of a global retain investment in Nelson Mandela buy out GMSA, but Van Huyssteen
pandemic and more. Bay. It’s no easy task, especially had to fight fires on several fronts,
It’s part of what has earned with unemployment in the region reassuring dealers, staff and
her the 2022 title of Business close to 40%. customers of ongoing support and
Category winner for The Herald Van Huyssteen’s relationship stability.

2022 | mandela.ac.za | 37